BLOGS

Recently I’ve learned a bit about California’s Prop 23, a misleading ballot initiative designed to suspend the state’s path-breaking greenhouse gas law (AB 32) until unemployment drops below 5.5 percent for four straight quarters, which is a pretty rare thing. You can get more info on this insidious campaign here. I suggest that you use it to spread the word to any Californians you may know about voting NO on 23.

And while you’re at it, you might also suggest putting forward a ballot initiative to end all ballot initiatives.

Comments (7)

Earl Richards

The California Jobs Initiative (CJI) is an oil corporation farce and fraud. There is no connection, whatsoever, between greenhouse gas emission reduction and the loss of jobs. This notion is an insult to the intelligence of the people of California. In fact, there is job growth in the clean, renewable energy industry. Chevron employs 65,000 worldwide and CJI is not going to change this. The only jobs created by the oil industry are clean-up jobs after oil spills and deep water, blow-outs and pump-handler jobs. CJI will make fantastic profits for the oil industry, increase air pollution, especially in communities around their refineries and there will not be lower gas prices. Koch Industries, Valero and Tesoro are super Enrons. Since when did the oil companies start to show any concern for the unemployed and their families and for small businesses?

Lol, having been raised in California, statewide unemployment (especially if it is figured using population totals, not citizen totals) under 5.5% is nearly impossible. They might as well have suspended it until the unemployed evolve into beings of pure energy and no longer need jobs.

Well, get used to it if Fiorina or Whitman wins. Both are taking a pro-Prop 23 position during the campaign. Fiorina tried to dodge a reporter’s question, but, in the end, had to come out in favor of it or risk losing the fervor of Republican Tea Party support.

The options are to vote for Brown or Green Laura Wells. Wells will be much less likely to give in to any pressures than Brown but you will hear the old, old song that it is too much of a risk to vote for anyone by the not-completely-green alternative to the Right Wing Evil.

I live in Boston, Mass. The passage of Prop 23 would be bad for everyone, including Massachusetts. California is the leader in renewable energy policies that other states are modeling themselves after. Instead of moving the country forward toward clean technology and farther away from fossil fuels, we would be rolling back the clock and using the same old excuses of “it’s not the right time” or “we just don’t have the money.” With news that China has surpassed the U.S. to now be the top producer of renewable technologies, this is not the time for our country to step backward.

If spending money on AB32 compliance is contingent upon having spent money on hiring, wouldn’t Prop 23 discourage companies from hiring (because if they hire enough people to drop unemployment, then they would need to spend additional money on AB32 compliance)?

Discover's Newsletter

Sign up to get the latest science news delivered weekly right to your inbox!

About Chris Mooney

Chris is a science and political journalist and commentator and the author of three books, including the New York Times bestselling The Republican War on Science--dubbed "a landmark in contemporary political reporting" by Salon.com and a "well-researched, closely argued and amply referenced indictment of the right wing's assault on science and scientists" by Scientific American--Storm World, and Unscientific America: How Scientific Illiteracy Threatens Our Future, co-authored by Sheril Kirshenbaum. They also write "The Intersection" blog together for Discover blogs.
For a longer bio and contact information, see here.